Page 41 of Ulune's Daughter

I chuckle. “Is that due to lack of desire or lack of opportunity?”

“Both,” she says. “Being stuck out on an island that’s only accessible by boat, and only then about a quarter of the time, definitely reduces opportunity.”

“I see. So, tell me about the ex.”

She grunts, a sound that’s entirely too sexy for us to have all our clothes on. “There must be something better for us to talk about.”

“Sure, if you want to. It just seems like a sore point and I’m always down to talk smack.”

She laughs. My chest pings hearing her laugh like that. Luca’s the only other person whose laughter makes something bright bubble up in me.

Fuck, why? Why-why-why did she have to be their fated mate?

“I have a ... lamentable track record of hooking up with guys who feel I’m their academic competition. I’ve become a little gun-shy of guys in my own field. They’re either really sore losers when I get what we’re competing for, or they try to steal my discoveries. Honestly, you only got the first date because you’re in the sports program.”

I swallow the sudden taste of bile. I guess now is not the time to tell her that swimming, while my passion, is not what I intend to do with my life. I’ve majored in magickal criminology and already have an offer from the Aedis Astrum’s enforcement division for after I graduate in May. I wouldn’t be her competition and I sure as hell wouldn’t ever steal her glory, but my future is not in a pool.

“I’m not saying this because I want to get into your pants—” She gives me such a dark side-eye it makes me chuckle. “I’m serious. I have nothing but admiration for you, Kellan. Since you seem like a woman who wipes the floor with any opposition, I should feel bad for your exes, but anyone who can’t admit when they’re bested or has to steal someone else’s hard work deserves no sympathy from me.”

“That’s the truth,” she agrees as we pull off Route 7 into the venue’s parking lot. She finds a spot and parks the Jeep but doesn’t climb out. “So, you’re interested in getting in my pants.”

She doesn’t make it a question, but there’s something underneath the arch statement that makes me wonder if this beautiful, accomplished woman doubts her own appeal.

I reach across the space between the seats and run my knuckles down her cheek, chilled from driving in the open Jeep. “I should play it cool, right? Say something like, isn’t everyone interested in getting in your pants? Or don’t we have a mutual depantsing interest?”

She laughs. “Please don’t say the latter. ‘Depantsing’ reminds me horribly of middle school gym class.”

“No depantsing,” I promise. “And I’m not cool. Kellan, I’d really like to get in your pants.”

That soft, low trill of laughter rings out again. “No game, huh? I thought you swimmers were smooth.”

I shake my head. I’ve been dating the same guy for three years. For two of them, I was too afraid to kiss him in public. Whatever game I might have had coming out of high school, I’ve definitely lost it.

She catches my hand and lifts it to her lips. She smooths a kiss over my knuckles before she says, “I don’t have any game, either. I hate fakeness. I’ve always wanted to be able to show my genuine feelings and trust that’s what I’m getting in return. Instead, I’ve had two spectacularly unsuccessful relationships, one with a guy who’s nowmarriedto my sister. The other with the guy who denied my grant application and now is trying to claim co-credit for my discovery. I guess ... I’d just really like to avoid a repeat of all that heartache.”

I swear then and there never to hide my feelings from this woman. Never to pretend more than I feel; never to hide the depths of my emotion. Yes, I’m lying to her on a lot of levels. But I promise her emotional honesty.

“Damn.” I whistle. “You got any ex horror story I might have beat. Your ex really married your sister?”

“Oh, yeah,” Kellan says, grimacing. “Asked me to be the maid of honor and everything. To show there were no hard feelings.”

“Are there hard feelings?”

“I arranged to be in the Amazon on their wedding day. Three days from the nearest town. No access to the Fae Ways. Very unfortunate.”

That draws a laugh out of me. “No hard feelings at all.”

She rolls her eyes. “Not a one.”

A silence stretches where she holds my hand. Neither of us try to get out of the car.

“Can I kiss you?” I ask finally.

“Yes,” she sighs. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Chapter14

Depantsing

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